Manowar

Thanks to the alternative rock explosion of the early '90s, Manowar and similar power metal outfits have been widely regarded as anachronistic for a long time. But that hasn't slowed down the numerous European power metal bands that have been formed in a post-Nirvana, post-Nevermind era and declared their allegiance to Manowar (along with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Queensrÿche) rather than Korn or Mushroomhead, and it hasn't prevented truly die-hard fans from continuing to buy Manowar's CDs and faithfully attend their concerts. Those true Manowar diehards will be the ones who will find The Sons of Odin of interest. This two-disc set (a 25-minute CD/EP and a bonus DVD) clearly was not designed for casual listeners; The Sons of Odin has an odds-and-ends format (a little bit of this, a little bit of that) that only attracts the true believers. The highlights of disc one (the 25-minute CD/EP) include two spirited live performances from Germany's Earthshaker Fest 2005 ("King of Kings" and "The Ascension") as well as some new songs that favor the stereotypical Dungeons & Dragons imagery that Manowar is known for. And the DVD ranges from a rehearsal of "Heart of Steel" (with a full orchestra) performed in the Czech Republic to a documentary on a fan convention that was held in Germany in 2005; the latter includes some funny moments that are entertaining in a Spinal Tap kind of way (such as an arm wrestling contest for Manowar fans and a Miss Manowar beauty pageant). How does a contestant improve her chances of winning a Miss Manowar contest? Well, proclaiming one's allegiance to Odin (the war god of Norse mythology), screaming "onward to Valhalla," and claiming to enjoy a lot of casual sex probably wouldn't hurt. Again, The Sons of Odin is not recommended to those who have only a mild interest in Manowar, although it has its enjoyable moments if one is a truly obsessive fan of these American power metal veterans. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide